Dr. Gradil will speak at the American Association of Equine Practioners annual convention.

Dr. Gradil will introduce the PearlPod IUD he developed for mares. The PearlPod IUDs are useful for behavior control and allow horse breeders to synchronize horse ovulation for embryo transfer. In addition, the PearlPod IUDs shorten the estrous cycle in transient mares. The PearlPod IUD is made up of plastic-coated magnets, which self-assemble into a shape that keeps them from falling out, while at the same time their individual small size makes insertion and removal very easy.  Their presence can be confirmed by ultrasound, or they can be detected by simply holding a hand-held metal detector to the mare’s abdomen.